vees:blog

More Vees banter courtesy the good folks at the Kettle Valley Station Pub and Cannery Brewing.

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Hayden Trupp has been designated an ‘Affiliated Player’ and has been assigned to the Penticton Lakers of the KIJHL (Jr. B).

With BC Hockey reversing their decision, and deeming Trupp an import, the Vees were forced to make a move with their roster already sitting at the league maximum of 8 imports. Trupp will play for the Vees this weekend, after which he will be allowed 10 games for the big club in the remainder of the regular season. Once the Lakers season has ended Trupp would be free to play with the Vees with no restriction. The Vees now have an open roster spot.

The 17-year-old forward has no shortage of skill but has been physically outmatched in his rookie season. Trupp has recorded a goal and an assist in 16 BCHL games after playing Midget hockey in Alaska last season.

Hayden was born in Penticton in 1992, his father and older brother both played their Junior hockey in Penticton.

I spoke with Vees HC/GM Fred Harbinson after Tuesday’s Practice…

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Eddie Gregory joins us to preview Friday’s pending visit from the Burnaby Express (lots of former Vees on that squad). Also we hear from the Head Scout of the Vees, catch highlights of a successful 6-days on Vancouver Island, and pick Coach Fred Harbinson’s brain as we cornered him on the ferry from Nanaimo to Vancouver last night.

Who’s leading the Vees in the 3 star standings?? Rock hard hits?? Hardest working honours? Yeah.. we’ve got that too!

‘Vees This Week’ is brought to you by Boston Pizza. Be sure to join us at BP’s on the 3rd of November as the whole team will be in attendance to sign autographs, and we’ll have prizes galore - including a spectacular Canucks prize package including two ticket to a ‘nucks game and a night’s stay in Vancouver. See you there!

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As for the head honcho’s thoughts… I caught up with Fred Harbinson on the Ferry from Nanaimo to Vancouver (that’s Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay for you ferry enthusiasts).

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Yes. Seriously! No kidding.

It may not feel like it, but a fourth of 60 is still 15.

Al Formo and I sat down in the Lobby of the hotel in Victoria to reflect on the first quarter of the Vees season.

‘12-2-0-1′ looks nice, though that Merritt loss still stinks.

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I spoke with Miami Redhawks 18-year-old freshman Curtis McKenzie on Monday.

The new guy is fitting in quite nicely in Ohio as he potted his first goal in his first game against. Curtis is back to the books and getting used to his new club in the CCHA.

Curtis lead the Vees in Goals, Points, GWG, PPG, SHG and PIM last season as a 17-year-old. Curtis was a member of the Canada West World Jr. A Challenge silver medal team, Team West of the CJHL Prospects Game, a BCHL All-Star, was named Captain of the Vees when Denver Manderson was injured in January, and was drafted by the Dallas Stars in June.

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I spoke with Fred Harbinson on Monday with the Vees one game away from the quarter mark of the season, and at the begining of a 10-day break.

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Join Fred Harbinson and myself Ryan Pinder for Coach’s Corner at the Kettle Valley Station Pub at the Ramada tonight from 6 until 7.

After a 6-1 drubbing of the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Wednesday and on the eve of a battle between the top two teams in Canada with Vernon coming to the SOEC on Friday, there will be lots to talk about for the Vees head coach.

The Vees currently lead the BCHL with 20 points in 12 games and are ranked #2 in Canada, while the Vipers are ranked #1, have 8 wins and a single loss for the top winning percentage in the BCHL. The Vees shutout Vernon on Saturday and are looking to gain some breathing room in the Interior Conference.

‘Coach’s Corner’ runs from 6-7 and is open to the public and media alike.

Free beer and pizza for the media, and the best question for the Coach from the audience wins a pair of tickets to Friday’s game with Vernon.

We’ll Meet at 6:00 and get the hockey talk started at soon after! Food. Drink. Hockey Talk. Life is good!

****UPDATE****

Live audio available below. Thanks to all that attended!

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Assistant Coach from the 2007/2008 Fred Page Cup Champion Vees Aaron Wilbur has had quite a weekend of competition with the UBC Thunderbirds.

Not only have the T-Birds been to Minnesota to play exhibition games with NCAA programs, but they also hosted a charity game with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat.

Aaron gets us caught up to speed with a whirl-wind week and the former Vees on the roster.

We ran out of time for this interview on Monday Night’s program, but it is still worthy of a listen.

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